SwiftVets.com

[Bill Levinson]

http://www.biorap.org/br9/br9infact.html
says that a hamster breathes 100 times a minute (5-8 times as rapidly as a human). This suggests to me that a hamster can survive without air for only 12-20% times as long as a human. Yet John Kerry's campaign is claiming that Kerry dove into the water after his daughter's hamster fell in (inside a cage), rescued the animal, and revived it.

Does anyone (veterinarians?) know how long a hamster can live without air? I question the veracity of this story because I doubt the animal could have survived long enough to be rescued.

If the water was sufficiently cold, though, I might be willing to buy the story as immersion in cold water triggers the mammalian diving reflex. (Humans have been rescued after 20-30 minutes when brain death would normally occur in 4-6).

--Bill
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--Bill
http://www.stentorian.com/politics/kerry Growing dossier on John Kerry's lack of character, ethics, and integrity. Free leaflets, Election 2004

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

The media played clips of that blasted hamster speech ad nauseum, but I think I only heard the outcome part one time.

I could have sworn she said that the hamster had died and they had a funeral for it? (Or was that the Reagan daughter's goldfish speech? Good heavens, darn CRAFT syndrome strikes again. )

Where are the transcripts site for the speeches that were given.... anyone know? I have been so busy, I haven't even looked for them.

Longer days, please.... longer days!
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~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother